Cigar machine



May 2, 1939. J. F. HALSTEAD CIGAR MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet l 3 4 ATTORNEY INVENTOR Jofin F/VaZdQZd .BY

May 2, 1939. J. F. HALSTEAD CIGAR MACHINE 3 Sheetsheet 2 ob J 8 INVENTORTTORNEY NNN Filed Feb. 18, 1936 May 2, 1939. J. F. HALSTEAD CIGARMACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY INVENTOR PatentedMay 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.156.284 claim. mournsApplication February 18, 1936, Serial No. 64,502

30 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar bunch machines.

Its main object is to improve the quality of cigar bunches, particularlylong filler bunches, although many of the features thereof are notlimited in their application to long filler but are also applicable toscrap bunches. The invention is particularly concerned with theelimination of fiat surfaces, hard portions, or ridges on bunches whichrender the completed product objectionable. With this object in view, itis one purpose of the invention to loosen or spread the filler charge sothat lumps or flat portions produced in cutting will be broken up andwill readily take the cylindrical shape to which the rolling apron ofthe bunch machine normally rolls the charge.

Another object is to provide a simple and practical device for carryingout the above purposes. In this connection it is an object of theinvention to incorporate charge loosening and spreading means in thecharge transfer which operates on the bunch charge just prior to itsdelivery to the rolling apron, or other means for rolling the charge ina binder to form a bunch.

Another object of the invention is to provide for positively strippingthe charge from the means which opens or spreads the charge, which meansmay also serve to eject the charge from the transfer.

Another object is to further insure against noncylindrical bunches bysupplying a dimension controlling element or roll cooperating with therolling apron at a fixed distance above the rolling table to hold thebunch to the desired diameter and to roll out lumps in said charge.Thus, this latter element serves to mechanically force the bunch anditscharge to proper shape and dimensions during rolling.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide an improvedsimplified filler feeding mechanism, particularly one adapted toeconomically and efficiently handle long filler. In this connection, itis the purpose of the invention to form long filler cut to length froma. stream fed by the cross feed, into an accumulated column or mass andto subject said mass to a uniform degree of compression and to cuttherefrom a uniform volume or length of column, to produce charges ofsubstantially uniform volume, despite variations in the condition of thetobacco, etc.

It is also an important feature of the invention to provide a practicaland simple means for delvering filler from a cross feed to such acolumn, particularly to deliver such tobacco with a high degree ofdirectness into a casing in which 55 the cross-section of the column iscontrolled. In

accordance with the invention, the cut length from the forward end ofthe cross feed is displaced out of line with the remainder of thetobacco in the cross feed in order that the cut ends, which may be ofcorrugated or V-form, may not interfere with each other.

Still another purpose 'of the invention is to provide simple andsatisfactory control means for so controlling the operation of the crossfeed that an excess of tobacco cannot accumulate and jam 10 the machineat the entrance end of the column receiving casing. In connection withthe invention a single pushing or transporting element is provided whichdisplaces the severed length of tobacco from the cross feed, along asupporting 15 surface, directly into the casing referred to. Thiselement in entering the casing is made use of to detect the building ofa surplus within the casing and to control the cross feed to stop thefeed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a casing in which the longfiller tobacco may be accumulated, having a yieldable wide side wall toavoid jamming of long filler lengths which may have been fed too high bythe operator feeding the cross feed, thus eliminating one of the sourcesof difliculty in utilizing a volumetric measurer of this type for longfiller.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafterfully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereuntoappended.

In the accompanying drawings in which like characters of referenceindicate the same or like parts:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a cigar machineembodying my invention;

Fig. 1a is an end elevation, partly in section, showing cross feed andcontrol therefor;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with themeasuring chamber in chargereceiving position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 3, with the measuring chamberin charge-delivering position;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation on line 5-5 of Fig. 4: parts being omitted,or broken away, to reveal underlying structure;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation on line 1-1 of Fig. 5, with themeasuring chamber closed;

Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5,with the measuring chamber 55 open and charge strippers In ejectionposition; and

Figs. 9 to 16 are detail side elevations showing successive stages inthe operation of the bunch-forming mechanisms.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the filler tobacco T travelslengthwise on endless cross feed belts into a chamber formed bystationary side walls 28, the bottom of which chamber is constituted bya swingable platform or support 2| when said platform occupies its upperposition, as at 2|, this platform being mounted on an arm 22 pivoted ona shaft 23 supported by the frame 24 of the machine. The arm 22 isconnected by a rod 25 with a lever 25 fulcrumed on a shaft 21 in framemember 28 and having a roller 29 held against a cam 38 on a shaft 3| bya spring 82.

While being cut by a cutter 33 having a corrugated or V-shapedcross-section, a clamp arm 34, pivoted on shaft 23 and actuated by alever 35 connected to it by a rod 38, descends upon the length oftobacco T forwardly projecting beyond the walls 28, holding it againstthe platform 2|, which then swings downward. An arm 31 fast on thefulcrum shaft of lever 35 carries a roller 38 engaging with a cam 38 onshaft 3|. The corrugated cutter 33 is adjustably carried by a holder 48attached to a slide 4| in frame 28, the said slide having a trunnion 42engaging with a lever 43 fulcrumed on shaft 21 and having a roller 44 inengagement with a track 45 in the rear surface of a cam 46.

In moving to its lower position the platform displaces the corrugatedends of the cut length out of alignment with the cross feed stream toprevent interference between the cut surfaces when the cut length isdisplaced horizontally. When the platform 2| has arrived in its lowerposition shown in full lines, a rake or pusher element 41 resting on thesame and swinging on a pivot 48 carried by an arm 49, pushes or sweepsthe charge T into a horizontal casing or chamber having four sides andopen ends, the lower side being formed by a stationary plate 58supported on frame members 54 and 55, while the upper side is formed bya plate 5| pressed yieldingly by a spring device 5Ia toward upright sidepieces 58a, of which one is shown clearly in elevation in Fig. 1, theother being symmetrically disposed relatively to the vertical sectionplane of the view.

The arm 49 is actuated by a lever 52 fast on its fulcrum shaft andcarrying a roller 53 engaging with the periphery of cam 45.

The above described mounting of the top plate 5| permits it to riseslightly if a lumpy formation occurs in the tobacco resulting from anerror in feeding, so that the presence of such a lump will not hinderthe lateral progress of the charge under the action of a spring 88, tobe described. Upon delivery of the charge T", the platform 2|, clamp arm34 and rake 41 return to their receiving positions 2|, 34' and 41',respectively, shown in dotted lines.

The tobacco charge in the chamber formed by the top and bottom walls 58and 5| and the side walls 58a is now pushed towards and into a combinedmeasuring chamber and filler transfer chamber 56 by a yieldablespring-pressed plunger 51 loosely carried in a block 58 sliding on a bar59, the block 58 being connected by a link 88 to a cam lever 6|fulcrumed on a shaft 52 and having a roller 83 engaging with a cam 84.The guidebar 59 is attached to a support block 65 resting on thebed-plate 55 carried by the base frame 81 of the machine. The spring 88surrounding the plunger rod 69 is adjusted by a socket 18 slidable on arod 1| fast in block 58, to the proper tension to produce the desiredtobacco density or degree of compression in the chamber formed by walls58--58a5|.

When the slide 58 has arrived at the end of its forward stroke,'with theplunger in the dotted position 51, a cutter 12 carried by a slide 13 ina pedestal frame 14 mounted on bed-plate 58 descends on a ledger bar 15mounted across the end of plate 58, thereby cutting the bunch charge T"in chamber 56. The cutter 12 is attached to the rails 16 of slide 13,the latter being mounted on an arm 11 clamped to a vertical shaft 18slidable in bearings of frame 14, shaft 18 being pivoted to a lever 19fulcrumed on shaft 82 and having a roller 88 in engagement with a trackin cam 54.

The rails 16, Figs. 2 to 4, are held against the sliding surfaces offrame 14 by guide plates 8| which carry blocks 82 supporting a shaft 83on which are mounted lugs 84 and 85 carrying cam rollers 85 and-81engaging with cam pieces 88 and 89 attached to slide 13. On itsprojecting ends, the shaft 83 carries crank levers 98 which areconnected by pivots 9| with curved arms 92 swingably supporting betweenthem a bar 93 having at its ends rollers 94 engaging with cam pieces 95attached to the guide plates 8|. To the bars 83 are affixed guides 96engaging with rollers 91 carried by curved arms 98 fastened on plates8|. Thus, when the slide 13 is moved downward by cam lever 19, the camrollers 86 and 81, by turning the shaft 83, swing the levers 98 andthereby force the arms 92 to swing the bar 93 from the position shown inFig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4.

To the bar 93, Figs. 5 to 8, are attached crossbars 99, on pivots I88 ofwhich swing brackets I8I carrying bars I82 and plates I83 and I84, thelatter forming the measuring chamber and transfer 58 carrying the bunchcharge T". The brackets |8I have rollers I85 (Fig. 5) engaging with campieces I 85 attached to a horizontal bar I81 having vertical sleeves I88sliding on posts I89 fastened to bar 93. At its center, the bar I81carries a hollow post 8 with which, on the downward move of slide 13,engages an S- shaped rod III (Fig. 3) pivoted on arm 11 and having aroller 2 held against a cam piece 3 on frame 14 by a spring II4 anchoredon a bracket 5 attached to slide 13. The cam piece I I3 keeps the rod II in its raised position shown in Fig. 3 until the measuring chamber 58has been swung into its delivery position shown in Fig. 4, thus clearingthe path of post 8 as it swings into upright position. When the rod IIIdepresses the post I I8, the cam pieces I88 compel the brackets |8| toturn on their pivots I88, thereby separating the plates I03, I84, thusopening the measuring chamber 56 (Fig. 8).

The bar I81 is provided with downwardly projecting pins 5 (Fig. 5)which, after a limited downward movement, contact with, and depress, ahorizontal bar 1 sliding on the pins I89 and held in its upmostposition, against nuts on screws H8 in bar 93, by a spring I I9 attachedto a pin I28 in post 8 (Fig. '7). The bar 1 is pushed downward untilpins |2| projecting from its underside come into contact with the bar93.

To the extended ends of the bar 1 are attached frames I22 (Fig. 8)carrying grooved guides I23 in which are slidably supported the ends ofa pair of bars I24 each sliding on a row almost of needles I25carried-by bars I02 (Fig. 5). The bars I 24, being in sliding engagementwith the plates I03 and I04, and, in the closed positionof chamber 56,engaging with one another by means of pins I20 carried by one ofthem-and fitting into holes of the other, form the rear wall of chamber66 when the latter is in the receiving position shown in Fig. 3, and actas strippers for the needles I25 whenthe frames I22 are depressed intotheir low position shown in Fig. 8. The needles I25 penetrate the bunchcharge T'-' and hold it in chamber 56 while the latter transfers thesame into discharge position. Then the plates I03 and I84 of themeasuring chamber 56 spread apart and the needles I25 break up lumps andfiat surfaces of the charge. In this condition the charge is depositedon the rolling apron I21 after the chamber has been opened by the actionof brackets IOI (Fig. 14). The function of the pins I26 is to keep thestrippers I24 in line while measuring chamber 56 is closed, therebyrelieving the needles I26 from guiding the strippers and taking theresulting strain on them during that time.

A bracket I28 attached to bar 93 (Fig, 5) carries a pin I29 (Fig. 6) onwhich is pivoted a lever I30 held by a spring I3I pushably against a pinI32 in a bracket I33 attached to bar I01 (Fig. 7). The lever I30, in thereceiving position of chamber 56, Fig. 3, engages with a rod I34 carriedby brackets I35 attached to the blocks 82 on guides 8|, positivelyholding the chamber closed while the same is being charged by theplunger 51.

Upon delivery of the charge T" and return of the transfer chamber, therolling arm l36, Fig. 1, moves forward towards the rolling table I31while a cam-operated arm I38, to which one end of the rolling apron I21is afilxed, moves backward, thereby tightening the apron I21 around thecharge T", which then is rolled on table I31 into a bunch B by therolling pin I39 attached to arm I36 by brackets I40, a binder havingbeen deposited on the rolling table after the charge T" has beentransferred.

A second set of brackets I4I on arm I36 carries a fixed roller I42 whichconfines the bunch B to a given dimension between said roller and therolling table. This tends to hold the same to true circular shape and toroll out corners or lumps since such protuberances find no room in whichto project. At the end of table I31, a guide piece I43 delivers thefinished bunch into a spring-clamp I44 from which it is removed by theoperator.

In Figs. 9 to 16, the various stages in the operation of thebunch-forming mechanism are shown. After the plunger 51 has applied adegree of pressure adequate to compress the charge T in the chamber 56formed by plates I03 and I 04 and strippers I24, Fig. 9, the downwardmotion of shaft 18 and slide 13 (Fig. 1) causes the cutter 12 todescend, Fig. 10, severing a bunch charge T". Thereupon the chamber 56starts its transfer movement. Fig. 11, while the plunger 51 begins torecede, and the cutter 12 continues to descend (Fig. 1). As the plunger51 continues to recede and the cutter 12 to descend, the rollers 94 ofbar 83 guide the chamber 56 into its discharge position, Fig. 12, andthe rollers I05 of brackets IOI,

influenced by the members I06, then open the side plates I03 and I04 ofchamber 56, Fig. 13, the charge T" being held in the chamber halves bythe needles I25 and the charge thus disrupted from within and spread.When the strippers I24 then move downward by the further descent ofslide 13,

the charge '1' is spread open upon the rolling apron I21, Fig. 14,whereupon the slide 13 begins to move upward. Upon having reached ahalfway position shown in Fig. 15, the strippers I24 begin to return totheir starting position and the plates I03 and I04 begin to close, untilin the upmost position of the slide 13, the chamber 56 is again closedand in receiving position shown in Fig. 16, the cutter 12 then havingascended to its starting position as in Fig. 9.

As soon as the transfer chamber has cleared the path of the rolling pinI39, (Fig. l) the latter with the compression roller I42 advances towardthe rolling table I31, thereby wrapping the apron I21 around the chargeT and subsequently, when passing over table I31, rolling the latter intoa bunch B as shown in Fig. l, the action of the roller I42, as explainedabove, holding the charge to a more uniform diameter and circular shape.While the next charge is being delivered and cut, the rolling pin I30returns to its starting position shown in Fig. 13 and theapron-tightening arm I38 (Fig. 1) moves to the end of its forwardstroke. so that a pocket for receiving the next charge T" is formed inthe rolling apron I21 before the chamber 56 executes its transfer motionshown in Fig. 12.

The lengthwise feed of tobacco T in the chamber comprising side walls 20is controlled by the quantity of filler present in the chamber formed bythe walls 50-50a5l at each cycle of the machine. Referring to Fig. 1a,on the fulcrum shaft I45 of the rake arm 49 is mounted an arm I46 towhich is pivoted a rod I41 connected with a lever I48 swinging on a studI49 in a bracket I50. The free end of lever I48 engages with a pawl I 5|swinging on a pivot I52 in an arm I53 fulcrumed on a shaft I54, the armI 53 being swung back and forth by a lever I55 attached to a crank armI56 carried by a shaft I51 driven by a chain I58. The shaft I51 througha chain I59 running over an idler I60 loose on shaft I 54, drives thecam shaft 3| (Fig. 1) On shaft I54 is fast a ratchet I6I and a bevelgear I62 meshing with a bevel gear I63 on a shaft I64 carrying asprocket I65. The sprocket I65 by-a chain I66 drives a sprocket I61 on ashaft I68 on which is mounted the pulley I69 driving the horizontal feedbelt I10, and which also carries bevel gears I1I meshing with bevelgears I12 on the shafts I13 carrying the drive pulleys I14 of thevertical feed belts I15;

When the tobacco charge in chamber formed by walls 50-500-5I permits therake 41 to advance (Fig. 1) to a position 41" within a limited distancefrom the delivery end of the chamber, the arm 49 turns the arms I46 toan extent sufficient to cause the lever I48 to depress the pawl I5I intoengagement with the ratchet I 6 I thereby, through the rocking of armI53, turning the shaft I54 in the direction of the arrow. The bevel gearI63 then transmits the motion to shaft I64 and the chain I66 causes theshaft I 68 to drive the pulleys I 69 and I14, thus compelling the beltsI10 and I15 to move additional tobacco T into the channel defined by theside walls 20. However, when there is sufilcient tobacco in the chamberformed by walls 5050a15I to cause the rake 41 to stop before reachingthe aforementioned limiting distance, the pawl I5I is not lifted intoengagement with ratchet I6I, and no tobacco is fed in that cycle of themachine. Once in every revolution of idler I60, a pin I16 carried by thesame engages an inwardly pointing finger I11 attached to pawl I5I,thereby resetting the same into neutral position, out of engagement withratchet IBI.

The connections between the pusher or rake 4'? and the cross feed beltsfor controlling the same are such that the magazine is never permittedto accumulate more than enough tobacco for two charges. Indeed it is setto hold the contents of the magazine below this amount. The reason forthis is that the more tobacco accumulating in the magazine, the lesssensitive becomes the effect of the plunger in producing a uniformdensity, since the squeezing of the tobacco against the magazine wallstends to prevent the uniform pressure of the plunger from beingcommunicated to the part adjacent the measuring chamber. \In thisconnection, it should be noted that the springs holding the wall 5|toward the side walls 50a, are quite stiff, and as there are usuallyfour of the spring devices Sta-one in each corner of the wall, normalvariations in the height of the charges produce no yielding of the wall5|, and such yielding only occurs upon occurrence in the charge of anabnormal height, such as would ordinarily produce a jam, holding backthe plunger 51.

When the charge and binder are pulled tight in the apron, the rolledcharge is confined between the roller I38 in front, the apron I21 pulledtight at the 'rear, the solid table i3! below and the roller M2 securedat a fixed distance above the table. Hence, a corner or lump cannotsimply force the upper side of the loop out but has to yield to thedimensions imposed by said roll.

The needles, since they may extend the full depth of the transferchamber, open the charge even though the charge may as often happenshave a vertical plane of cleavage in the end portion of the chamber.

In the operation of the cross feed, the supporting platform 2! is swungdown, as shown in Fig. 1, from a position in alignment with the bottombelt of the cross feed to a position with its delivery edge between theopen end of the casing formed by walls 5050a--5l and the working face ofthe plunger 51. Thus the support 2| first disengages the interlocked endof cut length, from the cross feed filler stream, and then forms a chuteguiding the out lengths directly into the compression chamber or casing.

The clamping arm 34 in its lower position, (Fig. 1), provides a guidesurface which merges into the open receiving end of the casing andfacilitates insertion of the lengths without bulging out or overflowingas said lengths are pushed into the chamber by the pusher or rakedl. Thesame pusher or rake element which slides the cut length of filler alongplatform 2i also moves into said chamber to fully insert the cut lengththerein. Thus the plunger 51, which has no means to confine the cutlength as to height, is required only to press home and uniformlycompress the accumulated charges in the casing and measuring chamber. Itis noted that with the present arrangement there are no cracks or jointsover which the cut length is pushed, on which the tobacco may catch orthrough which small tobacco pieces may fall, the platform 2| simplyoverlying and delivering onto a continuous part of plate 50.

In compressing the cut lengths in a chamber closed on top and bottomsides the effect of the plunger is to squeeze out the tobacco to thesame cross section as that of the chamber, and thus to minimize anyvariations in the height of the tobacco stream as fed by the operator atthe cross feed, and to produce charges of uniform volume. Also there isa saving due to preventing hitherto troublesome loss of scrap from theends of the cut lengths. Such losses are also reduced by the directdelivery along one surface from cutting position into a positionwithinthe four walls of the compression chamber.

In connection with the foregoing, it should be understood that inmeasuring the long filler tobacco by volume it is important foruniformity that the layers of leaves of one length, as laid in the crossfeed, have the same relative position with respect to that of otherlengths in the magazine casing, and that the position of such layers benot lost in handling. Also it is important that the tobacco be handledwithout jostling or tumbling, both for the above reason and because thisincreases the loss of scrap from the bunches especially at the fragileserrated ends of the bunch. Hence the value of applicant's arrangementfor simple and direct sliding along a single platform surface into aposition between the compressing plunger and the measuring chamber, withminimum movement of the cut length before it is confined in thecompression chamber.

The magazine formed by the walls 50-50a-5l provides an accumulatingchamber somewhat wider than the length of the bunch by reason of thepreferred spacing apart of the narrow side walls 50a at each longer sideof the chamber space, and these side walls are ordinarily setsufiiciently far apart so that the indented or serrated ends of thebunches are spaced from said side walls, since if there were engagement,it would have a tendency to break ed the points of the serrated ends.Having the side walls somewhat spaced from the ends of the mass in thechamber eliminates adjustment for different lengths. The pusher 41 andthe plunger 51 may be of a width substantially equal to the distancebetween walls 50a.

In connection with the foregoing,'it should be understood that theapparatus and method referred to may be widely varied within the scopeof the claims, for the specific structure and method selected toillustrate the claims is but one of many possible embodiments of thesame. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the detailsillustrated and described, nor to the tion.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a bunch rolling apron,

of a charge separator, mechanism for delivering charges from saidseparator onto said apron,and means acting on the separated charge;prior to rolling thereof in the apron, arranged to loosen the tobacco insaid charge.

2. The combination with a bunch rolling apron, of a charge separator,mechanism for delivering charges from said separator onto said apron,and means acting on said charge, prior to rolling thereof in the apron,arranged to change the arrangement of the tobacco in said charge, saidmeans including charge penetrating elements and devices for separatingsaid elements to loosen the charge.

3. The combination with a bunch rolling apron, of a charge separator,mechanism for delivering charges from said separator onto said apron,and means acting on the separated charge, prior to rolling thereof inthe apron, arranged to change the arrangement of the tobacco in saidcharge, said mechanism including a filler transfer for depositingseparated charges on said apron and said means including parts acting tospread the charge in said transfer.

4. The combination with a bunch rolling apron, of a charge separator,mechanism for delivering charges from said separator onto said apron,and

means acting on said charge, prior to rolling thereof in the apron,arranged to change the arrangement of the tobacco in said charge, saidmeans including needles arranged to enter the charge and devicesmanipulating said needles to disturb the arrangement of tabacco in saidcharge. 5. The method of making cigar bunches from a compressed mass oftobacco which consists in separating a'charge of tobacco from the mass,applying a disruptive force from its interior outwardly of said chargeto separate or spread parts of the charge, and rolling the separated orspread charge in a binder. p

6. The method of making cigar bunches from a compressed mass of tobaccowhich comprises separating a charge of tobacco from the mass,penetrating the mass by separate instruments, and separating saidinstruments while penetrating the charge to spread the charge.

7. The method of making cigar bunches from a tobacco mass whichcomprises separating a charge of tobacco from the mass, penetrating themass by separate instruments along a line parallel to the axis of thebunch, and separating said instruments to spread the charge. 8. In acigar machine, the combination with a flller transfer for delivering afiller charge to a bunch roller, of filler penetrating elements arrangedto penetrate the charge in said transfer, and mechanism for giving saidelements move-. ment relative to one another'to manipulate the charge,

9. In a cigar machine, the combination with a filler transfer fordelivering a filler charge to a bunch roller, of filler penetratingelements arranged to penetrate the charge in said transfer, mechanismfor giving said elements movement relative to one another to manipulatethe charge, and stripper means for stripping the filler from saidelements.

10. In a cigar machine, the combination with a flller transfer fordelivering a filler charge to a bunch roller, of filler penetratingelements arranged to penetrate the charge in said transfer, andmechanism for giving said elements movement relative to one another tomanipulate the charge, said elements comprising needles.

11. In a cigar machine, the combination with a filler transfer fordelivering a filler charge to a bunch roller, of filler penetratingelements arranged to penetrate. the charge in said transfer, andmechanism for giving said elements movement relative to one another tomanipulate the charge, said stripping means consisting of plates movablealong said elements to discharge the filler therefrom.

12. In a cigar machine, the combination with a filler transfer fordelivering a filler charge to a bunch roller, of filler penetratingelements arranged to penetrate the charge in said transfer, andmechanism for giving said elements movement relative to one another tomanipulate the charge, said transfer having opposite side walls betweenwhich the charge is received and means for separating said walls todischarge the filler.

13. In a cigar machine, the combination with a filler transfer fordelivering a filler charge to a bunch roller, of filler penetratingelements arranged to penetrate the charge in said transfer, andmechanism for giving said elements movement relative'to one another tomanipulate the charge, said transfer having opposite side walls betweenwhich the charge is received and means for separating said walls todischarge the filler,

oneor more of saidelements being connected to each side wall formovement therewith to spread the filler apart.

14. In a cigar machine the combination with a filler transfer fordelivering a filler charge to a bunch roller, of filler penetratingelements arranged to penetrate the. charge in said transfer, andmechanism for giving said elements movement relative to one another tomanipulate the charge, said transfer having opposite side walls betweenwhich the charge is received and means for separating said walls todischarge the filler, one or more of said elements being connected toeach side wall for movement therewith to spread the filler apart, andstripping means arranged to strip the filler from said elements.

15. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with an open end magazinehaving a receiving and a discharge end, of charge measuring andseparating means for separating a predetermined volume of tobacco at thedischarge end of said magazine, a cross feed for forwarding a-stream oflong filler tobacco, a movable support positioned.

to receive a length of the forward end of said stream approximatelyequal to .the length of the bunch, a cutter for severing said lengthfromthe remainder of the' stream, means moving said support out ofalignment with the cross feed into position to deliver into the openreceiving end of said magazine, a pusher having to and fro movementalong said support and into said magazine to deliver said length intothe magazine, and a yieldable plunger movable into said magazine andacting to compress the supply in said magazine with uniform pressureduring the charge severing operation. 16. In a cigar bunch machine, thecombination with a magazine chamber having open receiving and dischargeends, of charge measuring and separating means for separating apredetermined. volume of tobacco at the discharge end of said chamber, across feed for forwarding a stream of long-filler tobacco, a tiltablesupport positioned to receive a length of the forward end of said streamapproximately equal to the length of the bunch, a vertically movablecutter of a cross-section to cut indented ends for severing said lengthfrom the remainder of the stream, means tilting said support to movesaid length vertically out of alignment with the cross feed intoposition to deliver into the open receiving end of said chamber, and ayieldable plunger movable into said chamber to compress the tobaccotherein during charge measuring and separating.

17. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with a magazine chamber ofelongated cross section having open receiving and discharge ends,

of charge measuring and separating means for separating a predeterminedlength from a column of tobacco formed by said chamber to provide anelongated charge of substantially uniform volume, a cross feedforforwarding a stream of tobacco substantially parallel to the longdimension of said charges, a cutter for cuttinga length from the forwardendof said stream substantially equal to the width of said chamber, apivoted support for supporting said length during cutting, means forswinging one end of said support to a position delivering into saidchamber, and a movable pusher element acting to sweep said charge alongsaid support and within said chamber.

18. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with means for forwardinga narrowstream of tobacco, a cutter for cutting a bunch length from theforward end of said stream, an open end chamber, a platform arranged toform achute for receiving said out length and guiding the same withinsaid chamber, a plunger, means yieldingly urging said plunger past saidchute and into said chamber to compress a supply therein under. asubstantially uniform pressure, an adjustable stop wall against whichthe tobacco of said chamber is compressed, and a. knife spaced apredetermined distance from said stop wall to cut bunch charges havingsubstantially uniform volume.

19. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with means for forwarding.a narrow stream of tobacco, a cutter for cutting a bunch length from theforward end of said stream, a magazine chamber, a platform arranged toform an inclined chute for receiving said out length and guiding thesame within said chamber, a plunger,

means yieldingly urging said plunger past said chute and into saidchamber to compress a supply therein under a substantially uniformpressure, a stop wall against which the tobacco of said chamber iscompressed, a knife spaced a predetermined distance from said stop wallto cut predetermined bunches having substantially uniform volume, and amember movable over said chute to deliver the length cut thereon withinsaid chamber.

20. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with a flat chamber, of across section of substantially greater width than thickness havingopposite open receiving and discharge ends, severing mechanism arrangedto sever a uniform length from a column of tobacco formed by saidchamber to provide elongated charges of substantially uniform volume, afiller feed for feeding a stream of long filler tobacco substantiallyparallel to the long dimension of said charges, means for cutting abunch length from the forward end of said stream, a supporting surfaceforming one side wall of said chamber at the receiving end thereof, aplatform arranged to support said length during cutting, having aportion movable to a position adjoining and overlapping said surface,means for forwarding the separated length on said surface and into saidchamber, and yielding means for compressing the mass in the chamberduring severing of the charges.

21. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with a flat chamber havingopposite open receiving and discharge ends, of means for feedingincrements of tobacco into the receiving end, mechanism operating toblock the discharge end of said chamber, a plunger, means moving saidplunger against said mass with a substantially uniform pressure, and ayieldable support for one of the side walls of said chamber arranged topermit the wall to yield outwardly when an increment of greaterthickness than the distance between said wall and the opposite wall isfed into said chamber.

22. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with a chamber havingopposite rigid walls and open receiving and discharge ends, of means forfeeding increments of tobacco into the receiving end of said chamber,and charge separating means for separating bunch charges from the columof tobacco formed by said chamber, one rigid wall of said chamber beingmounted to yield relative to the other.

23. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with a chamber havingopposite walls and open long filler tobacco is fed, a cutter for cuttinga bunch length from the forward end of said stream, and mechanism fordelivering the cut length from said stream edgewise into said chamber,said chamber operating to yield to projections on said length resultingfrom irregularities in placing the long filler in said channel.

24. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with a feed for forwardinga narrow stream of tobacco, a cutter for severing bunch lengths fro saidstream, a horizontal magazine having open receiving and discharge ends,a plunger movable into said magazine to compress tobacco therein, and aplatform tiltable from a position supporting the bunch length at cuttingposition to a position with one end of said platform in a positionintercepting a line between the plunger and the open end of the chamber,a device acting to push said length along said platform into saidintercepting position to bring the length within the range of action ofthe plunger, yieldable means moving said plunger past said platform intosaid magazine to compress the tobacco therein, and means for cutting abunch charge from said tobacco while compressed by said plunger.

25. Ina cigar bunch machine, the combination with a measuring chamberhaving a predetermined volume, an open end magazine chamber aligned withsaid measuring chamber, a plunger, plunger operating means moving saidplunger into said magazine chamber to compress the mass of tobacco insaid measuring chamber, a charge separator for separating tobacco in themeasuring chamber from that in the magazine chamber, inclined chutemeans for delivering increments of tobacco into a position between theplunger and the tobacco already in the magazine chamber, and cross feedmechanism for forwarding lengths of long filler tobacco onto and alongsaid inclined chute means.

26. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with an open end magazinehaving a receiving and a discharge end, of charge measuring andseparating means for separating a predetermined volume of tobacco at thedischarge end of said magazine, a cross feed for forwarding a stream oflong-filler tobacco, a movable support positioned to receive a length ofthe forward end of said stream approximately equal to the length of thebunch, a separator for separating said length from the remainder of thestream, means moving said support out of alignment with the cross feedinto position to deliver into the open receiving end of said magazine, apusher having to and fro movement along said support and into saidmagazine to deliver said length into the magazine, and means connectedto said cross feed and actuated by said pusher when held back by anexcess of tobacco in the magazine for controlling the operation of thecross feed.

27. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with an open and magazinehaving a receiving and a discharge end, of charge measuring andseparating means for separating a predetermined volume of tobacco at thedischarge end of said.

to receive a length of the forward end of said stream approximatelyequal to the length 01' the bunch, a separator for separating saidlength from the remainder of the stream, means moving said support outof alignment with the cross feed into position to deliver into the openreceiving end of said magazine, a pusher having to and fro movementalong said support and into said magazine to deliver said length intothe magazine, and means connected to said cross feed and actuated bysaid pusher when held back by an excess of tobacco in the magazine forcontrolling the operation of the cross feed, said control meansincluding mechanism for stopping the cross feed during one cycle ofoperation of the machine. I

28. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with an open end magazinehaving a receiving and a discharge end, of charge measuring andseparating means for separating a predetermined volume of tobacco at thedischarge end of said magazine, a cross feed for forwarding a stream oflong-filler tobacco, a cutter for severing a bunch length from saidstream, means acting to deliver said length into the open receiving endof said magazine, a yieldable plunger movable into said magazine andacting to compress the supply in said magazine with uniform pressureduring the charge severing operation, and means responsive to an excessof tobacco in said magazine for controlling the operation of said feed.

29. In a cigar machine, the combination with an open end magazine havinga receiving and a discharge end, of charge measuring and separatingmeans for separating a predetermined volume of tobacco at the dischargeend of said magazine, a cross feed for forwarding a stream of longfiilertobacco, a cutter for severing a bunch length from said stream, meansacting to deliver said length into the open receiving end of saidmagazine, a yieldable plunger movable into said magazine and acting tocompress the supply in said magazine with uniform pressure during thecharge severing operation, and means responsive to an excess of tobaccoin said magazine for controlling the operation of said feed, said meansincluding mechanism for stopping said feed.

30. In a cigar bunch machine, the combination with an open end magazinehaving a receiving and a discharge end, of charge measuring andseparating means for separating a predetermined volume of tobacco at thedischarge end of said magazine, a cross feed for forwarding a stream oflong-filler tobacco, a cutter for severing a bunch length from saidstream, means acting to deliver said length into the open receiving endof said magazine, and means responsive to an excess of tobacco in saidmagazine for controlling the operation of said feed, said meansincluding mechanism for stopping said feed and said means includingconnections controlling said feed to maintain the supply of tobacco insaid magazine at less than that needed for two bunches.

JOHN F. HALSTEAD.

